Live in concert

April 12, 2008 
Opening with "Hi-Speed Soul" from its 2002 album Let Go, Nada Surf performed for a sold-out crowd in a live concert webcast for NPR.org. A wistful pop song that ponders the meaning of reality, "Hi-Speed Soul" set the tone for an evening of inspired, thoughtful rock as the New York trio shared old favorites and showcased work from its latest album, Lucky.

March 28, 2008 
With his ironic wordplay, deadpan delivery, and spiky guitar hooks, Malkmus helped make his former group Pavement one of the most influential rock acts of the '90s. Hear Malkmus and his backing band The Jicks, recorded live in concert from Washington, D.C.

March 13, 2008 
With a fierce independent streak and incredible record collections, guitarist Ira Kaplan and drummer Georgia Hubley have crafted a consistent discography of smart pop music and noisy rock.

March 13, 2008 
Shortly after coming together, The Whigs' members were already packing clubs in their native Athens, Ga., as well as its neighbor, Atlanta. Mission Control's charms show through its meaty production.

March 13, 2008 
Vampire Weekend's self-titled debut is a charming piece of Afropop-flecked indie-rock. Its tones are as starch-clean as Vampire Weekend's Oxford shirts, and its melodies as perky as popped collars.

Vampire Weekend in Concert at SXSW 3/13/08

March 13, 2008 
Bon Iver's Justin Vernon sings in a heartbreaking falsetto as his backing band provides a comforting wash of gentle guitars, set against distant atmospherics and harmonies that echo through the ether.

March 13, 2008 
A.A. Bondy plays songs live at SXSW from his debut, American Hearts. The former Verbena frontman leaves behind the rock crunch of his former band for bluesy folk songs about damnation and salvation.

March 12, 2008 
The DC, native's latest CD, Further North, is a tribute to his new environs in Los Angeles. It takes on a laid-back pop and country-rock vibe, akin to the late-'60s records by his hero, Neil Young.

March 12, 2008 
Summerbirds in the Cellar shares members with Now It's Overhead, and the two bands do share similar sounds. The group spends half its time in Athens, Ga., so R.E.M. comparisons are inevitable.

March 12, 2008 
After 25 years as one of the most beloved and acclaimed bands in rock, R.E.M. needed a shot of adrenaline to get fans excited again. In advance of a new album, the group performed a set on March 12.